NRG Energy 10-Q 2026-03-31
Filed 2026-05-06. 8 sections, 369K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
| ☒ | Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |||||||||||||
| For the Quarterly Period Ended: | March 31, 2026 | |||||||||||||
| ☐ | Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
Commission File Number: 001-15891
NRG Energy, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 41-1724239 | |||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 1301 McKinney Street | Houston | Texas | 77010 | ||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(713) 537-3000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 | NRG | New York Stock Exchange | ||||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 | NRG | NYSE Texas |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
As of April 30, 2026, there were 210,986,470 shares of common stock outstanding, par value $0.01 per share.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Index
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG or the Company, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The words “believes,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “estimates,” “should,” “forecasts,” “targets,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond NRG’s control, that may cause NRG’s actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties include any factors described under Risk Factors, in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q and the following:
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NRG’s ability to obtain and maintain retail market share;
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General economic conditions, changes in the wholesale power and gas markets and fluctuations in the cost of fuel;
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Volatile power and gas supply costs and demand for power and gas, including the impacts of weather;
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The imposition of tariffs, the escalation of international trade disputes, and the occurrence or re-escalation of geopolitical conflicts (including the hostilities with Iran and the conflicts in the Middle East), and inflationary impacts resulting therefrom;
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The inability of the Company to realize expected benefits from the integration of LSP Portfolio’s assets and businesses;
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Hazards customary to the power production industry and power generation operations, such as fuel and electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions, catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled or forced generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to fuel supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission or gas pipeline system constraints and the possibility that NRG may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards;
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The effectiveness of NRG’s risk management policies and procedures and the ability of NRG’s counterparties to satisfy their financial commitments;
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NRG’s ability to enter into contracts to sell power or gas and procure fuel on acceptable terms and prices;
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NRG’s ability to successfully integrate, realize cost savings and manage any acquired businesses;
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NRG’s ability to engage in successful acquisitions and divestitures, as well as other mergers and acquisitions activity;
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NRG’s, and its counterparties’, ability to successfully complete the development and construction of new generation facilities and projects in a timely and cost effective manner;
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Cyber terrorism and cybersecurity risks, data breaches or the occurrence of a catastrophic loss and the possibility that NRG may not have sufficient insurance to cover losses resulting from such hazards or the inability of NRG’s insurers to provide coverage;
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Operational and reputational risks related to the use of AI and the adherence to developing laws and regulations related to the use of AI;
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Counterparties’ collateral demands and other factors affecting NRG’s liquidity position and financial condition;
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NRG’s ability to operate its businesses efficiently and generate earnings and cash flows from its asset-based businesses in relation to its debt and other obligations;
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The liquidity and competitiveness of wholesale markets for energy commodities;
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Changes in law, including judicial and regulatory decisions;
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Government regulation, including changes in market rules, rates, tariffs and environmental laws;
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NRG’s ability to develop and innovate new products, as retail and wholesale markets continue to change and evolve;
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Price mitigation strategies and other market structures employed by ISOs or RTOs that result in a failure to adequately and fairly compensate NRG’s generation units;
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NRG’s ability to borrow funds and access capital markets, as well as NRG’s substantial indebtedness and the possibility that NRG may incur additional indebtedness in the future;
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Operating and financial restrictions placed on NRG and its subsidiaries that are contained in NRG’s corporate credit agreements, and in debt and other agreements of certain of NRG subsidiaries and project affiliates generally;
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NRG’s ability to implement its strategy of finding ways to meet the challenges of climate change, clean air and protecting natural resources, while taking advantage of business opportunities;
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NRG’s ability to increase cash from operations through operational and market initiatives, corporate efficiencies, asset strategy, and a range of other programs throughout NRG to reduce costs or generate revenues;
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NRG’s ability to successfully evaluate investments and achieve intended financial results in new business and growth initiatives; and
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NRG’s ability to develop and maintain successful partnering relationships as needed.
In addition, unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and NRG undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as otherwise required by applicable laws. The foregoing factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should not be construed as exhaustive.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
When the following terms and abbreviations appear in the text of this report, they have the meanings indicated below:
| 2025 Form 10-K | NRG’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 | |||||||
| ACE | Affordable Clean Energy | |||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization | |||||||
| AESO | Alberta Electric System Operator | |||||||
| ARO | Asset Retirement Obligation | |||||||
| ASC | The FASB Accounting Standards Codification, which the FASB established as the source of authoritative GAAP | |||||||
| ASU | Accounting Standards Updates – updates to the ASC | |||||||
| BTU | British Thermal Unit | |||||||
| Business | NRG Business, which serves business customers | |||||||
| CAA | Clean Air Act | |||||||
| CAISO | California Independent System Operator | |||||||
| CAMT | 15% Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax enacted by the IRA on August 16, 2022 | |||||||
| CDD | Cooling Degree Day | |||||||
| Cedar Bayou 5 | Cedar Bayou Unit 5 generation facility, a 689 MW natural gas-fueled combined cycle plant | |||||||
| CFTC | U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission | |||||||
| CO2 | Carbon Dioxide | |||||||
| Company | NRG Energy, Inc. | |||||||
| Convertible Senior Notes | NRG’s unsecured 2.750% Convertible Senior Notes due 2048, which were redeemed on July 8, 2025 | |||||||
| Cottonwood | Cottonwood Generating Station, a 1,139 MW natural gas-fueled plant. NRG leased and operated the plant through May 2025 | |||||||
| CPP | Clean Power Plan | |||||||
| D.C. Circuit | U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |||||||
| DOJ | U.S. Department of Justice | |||||||
| Dth | Dekatherms | |||||||
| Economic gross margin | Sum of retail revenue, energy revenue, capacity revenue and other revenue, less cost of fuel, purchased energy and other cost of sales | |||||||
| EGU | Electric Generating Unit | |||||||
| ELG | Effluent Limitations Guidelines which are EPA regulations issued under the federal Clean Water Act | |||||||
| EPA | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | |||||||
| ERCOT | Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the Independent System Operator and the regional reliability coordinator of the various electricity systems within Texas | |||||||
| ESPP | NRG Energy, Inc. Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan | |||||||
| Exchange Act | The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |||||||
| FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board | |||||||
| FERC | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | |||||||
| FGD | Flue gas desulfurization | |||||||
| FTRs | Financial Transmission Rights | |||||||
| GAAP | Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States | |||||||
| GHG | Greenhouse Gas | |||||||
| Green Mountain Energy | Green Mountain Energy Company | |||||||
| Greens Bayou 6 | Greens Bayou Unit 6 generation facility, a 443 MW natural gas-fueled peaker plant | |||||||
| GW | Gigawatts | |||||||
| GWh | Gigawatt Hours | |||||||
| HDD | Heating Degree Day |
| Heat Rate | A measure of thermal efficiency computed by dividing the total BTU content of the fuel burned by the resulting kWhs generated. Heat Rates can be expressed as either gross or net Heat Rates, depending whether the electricity output measured is gross or net generation and is generally expressed as BTU per net kWh | |||||||
| Home | NRG Home, which serves residential customers | |||||||
| ICE | Intercontinental Exchange | |||||||
| IESO | Independent Electricity System Operator | |||||||
| ISO | Independent System Operator, also referred to as RTOs | |||||||
| ISO-NE | ISO New England Inc. | |||||||
| Ivanpah | Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation Station, a 385 MW solar thermal power plant located in California’s Mojave Desert in which NRG owns 54.5% interest | |||||||
| kWh | Kilowatt-hours | |||||||
| LS Power | LS Power Equity Advisors, LLC | |||||||
| LSP Portfolio | The portfolio of natural gas and dual fuel generation and other assets from LS Power | |||||||
| LTIPs | Collectively, the NRG long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) and the Vivint LTIP | |||||||
| MDth | Thousand Dekatherms | |||||||
| Midwest Generation | Midwest Generation, LLC | |||||||
| MISO | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. | |||||||
| MMBtu | Million British Thermal Units | |||||||
| MMDth | Million Dekatherms | |||||||
| MW | Megawatts | |||||||
| MWh | Saleable megawatt hour net of internal/parasitic load megawatt-hour | |||||||
| NAAQS | National Ambient Air Quality Standards | |||||||
| NEPOOL | New England Power Pool | |||||||
| NERC | North American Electric Reliability Corporation | |||||||
| Net Exposure | Counterparty credit exposure to NRG, net of collateral | |||||||
| Net Revenue Rates | Sum of retail revenues less TDSP transportation charges | |||||||
| Nodal | Nodal Exchange is a derivatives exchange | |||||||
| NOL | Net Operating Loss | |||||||
| NOx | Nitrogen Oxides | |||||||
| NPNS | Normal Purchase Normal Sale | |||||||
| NRC | U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission | |||||||
| NRG | NRG Energy, Inc. | |||||||
| NRG Receivables | NRG Receivables LLC, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company | |||||||
| NYISO | New York Independent System Operator | |||||||
| NYMEX | New York Mercantile Exchange | |||||||
| OECD | Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development | |||||||
| PJM | PJM Interconnection, LLC | |||||||
| PM2.5 | Particulate Matter that has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers | |||||||
| PPA | Power Purchase Agreement | |||||||
| PUCT | Public Utility Commission of Texas | |||||||
| RCRA | Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 | |||||||
| Receivables Facility | NRG Receivables LLC, a bankruptcy remote, special purpose, wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company’s $2.3 billion accounts receivables securitization facility due 2026, which was last amended on June 20, 2025 | |||||||
| RECs | Renewable Energy Certificates | |||||||
| Renewable PPA | A third-party PPA entered into directly with a renewable generation facility for the offtake of the RECs or other similar environmental attributes generated by such facility, coupled with the associated power generated by that facility | |||||||
| Revolving Credit Facility | The Company’s $4.6 billion revolving credit facility due 2029, which was last amended on May 27, 2025 |
| RGGI | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | |||||||
| RMR | Reliability Must-Run | |||||||
| RTO | Regional Transmission Organization, also referred to as ISOs | |||||||
| SEC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | |||||||
| Senior Credit Facility | NRG’s senior secured credit facility, comprised of the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan B Facility | |||||||
| Senior Notes | As of March 31, 2026, NRG’s $9.9 billion outstanding unsecured senior notes consisting of $821 million of 5.750% senior notes due 2028, $733 million of the 5.250% senior notes due 2029, $500 million of the 3.375% senior notes due 2029, $798 million of the 5.750% senior notes due 2029, $1.0 billion of the 3.625% senior notes due 2031, $480 million of the 3.875% senior notes due 2032, $925 million of the 6.000% senior notes due 2033, $950 million of the 6.250% senior notes due 2034, $1.3 billion of the 5.750% senior notes due 2034 and $2.4 billion of the 6.000% senior notes due 2036 | |||||||
| Senior Secured First Lien Notes | As of March 31, 2026, NRG’s $3.4 billion outstanding Senior Secured First Lien Notes consists of $900 million of the 2.450% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2027, $500 million of the 4.450% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2029, $625 million of the 4.734% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2030, $740 million of the 7.000% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2033 and $625 million of the 5.407% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2035 | |||||||
| Series A Preferred Stock | As of March 31, 2026, NRG’s Series A Preferred Stock consists of 650,000 outstanding shares of the 10.25% Series A Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock, with a $1,000 liquidation preference per share | |||||||
| SO2 | Sulfur Dioxide | |||||||
| SOFR | Secured overnight financing rate | |||||||
| TCJA | The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 | |||||||
| TDSP | Transmission/distribution service provider | |||||||
| TEF | Texas Energy Fund | |||||||
| Texas Generation Portfolio | The acquisition of a portfolio of power generation facilities and other assets from Rockland Capital, LLC | |||||||
| T.H. Wharton | T.H. Wharton generation facility includes a 1,002 MW natural gas-fueled plant, which is currently operational, and an additional 415 MW natural gas-fueled peaker plant, which is currently under construction | |||||||
| U.S. | United States of America | |||||||
| VaR | Value at Risk | |||||||
| VIE | Variable Interest Entity | |||||||
| Winter Storm Uri | A major winter and ice storm that had widespread impacts across North America occurring in February 2021 |
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES
NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share amounts) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 10,256 | $ | 8,585 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Costs and Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of operations (excluding depreciation and amortization shown below) | 8,858 | 6,561 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 432 | 326 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative costs (excluding amortization of customer acquisition costs of $87 and $65, respectively, which are included in depreciation and amortization shown separately above) | 593 | 549 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs | 45 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses | 9,928 | 7,444 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Loss on sale of assets | — | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating Income | 328 | 1,134 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other Income/(Expense) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 40 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (285) | (163) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other expense | (245) | (149) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 83 | 985 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax (benefit)/expense | (42) | 235 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 125 | $ | 750 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Cumulative dividends attributable to Series A Preferred Stock | 17 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income Available for Common Stockholders | $ | 108 | $ | 733 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income per Share | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic | 207 | 198 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income per Weighted Average Common Share — Basic | $ | 0.52 | $ | 3.70 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — diluted | 208 | 203 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Income per Weighted Average Common Share — Diluted | $ | 0.52 | $ | 3.61 |
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 125 | $ | 750 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other Comprehensive (Loss)/Income | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (1) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Defined benefit plans | (2) | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive (loss)/income | (3) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive Income | $ | 122 | $ | 752 | |||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
NRG ENERGY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||||||
| (In millions, except share data) | (Unaudited) | (Audited) | |||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current Assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 178 | $ | 4,708 | |||||||
| Funds deposited by counterparties | 176 | 260 | |||||||||
| Restricted cash | 57 | 30 | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 3,777 | 4,065 | |||||||||
| Inventory | 665 | 461 | |||||||||
| Derivative instruments | 3,081 | 2,189 | |||||||||
| Cash collateral paid in support of energy risk management activities | 606 | 365 | |||||||||
| Prepayments and other current assets | 1,382 | 1,069 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 9,922 | 13,147 | |||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 13,533 | 3,632 | |||||||||
| Other Assets | |||||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets, net | 153 | 130 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 8,881 | 5,017 | |||||||||
| Customer relationships, net | 1,255 | 1,203 | |||||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 1,207 | 1,106 | |||||||||
| Derivative instruments | 1,704 | 1,568 | |||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 1,796 | 1,843 | |||||||||
| Other no |
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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The discussion and analysis below has been organized as follows:
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Executive summary, including introduction and overview, business strategy, and changes to the business environment during the period, including environmental and regulatory matters;
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Known trends that may affect NRG’s results of operations and financial condition in the future;
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Results of operations; and
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Liquidity and capital resources including liquidity position, financial condition addressing credit ratings, material cash requirements and commitments, and other obligations.
As you read this discussion and analysis, refer to NRG’s condensed consolidated statements of operations to this Form 10-Q, which present the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. Also refer to NRG’s 2025 Form 10-K, which includes detailed discussions of various items impacting the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition, including: General section; Strategy section; Business Overview section, including how regulation, weather, and other factors affect NRG’s business; and Critical Accounting Estimates section.
Executive Summary
Introduction and Overview
NRG Energy, Inc., or NRG or the Company, provides electricity, natural gas, and smart-home technology solutions to approximately 8 million residential customers (comprised of 6 million retail energy and 2 million smart home), in addition to large commercial and industrial, data center and wholesale customers. Across North America, NRG is redefining customer’s experience with energy under brand names such as NRG, Reliant, Direct Energy, Green Mountain Energy, and Vivint. As of March 31, 2026, the Company’s core power and natural gas business consists of approximately 25 GW of competitive power generation, including approximately 13 GW from the LSP portfolio, and a natural gas portfolio that serves approximately 1,900 MMDth annually.
Strategy
NRG’s strategy is to maximize shareholder value by delivering integrated energy and smart home solutions, supported by an owned generation fleet and a diversified supply strategy. The Company generates power and sells electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers in the markets it serves. The Company also provides smart home security and automation services that deepen customer relationships and support long-term engagement. NRG operates a customer-first platform that promotes reliability and affordability amid rapid transformation in the energy sector. The Company is advancing opportunities to meet growing demand, including from data centers, other large load customers, and electrification. This includes (i) demand response and virtual power plants (“VPP”), which help manage costs and improve affordability for customers, (ii) completing the Texas Development Projects, (iii) long-term, contract-backed generation and related infrastructure, supported by strategic partnerships with equipment manufacturers and engineering, procurement, and construction companies, and (iv) increasing capacity at existing facilities. The Company’s differentiated model is built to meet North America’s evolving needs while delivering affordable, reliable solutions for customers and long-term growth for shareholders. This strategy is intended to generate recurring cash flow, strengthen earnings and cost competitiveness, and reduce risk and volatility.
To effectuate the Company’s strategy, NRG is focused on: (i) serving the energy needs of residential, commercial and industrial, and wholesale counterparties in competitive markets and optimizing on additional revenue opportunities through its multiple brands and channels; (ii) offering a variety of energy products and smart home products and services that are differentiated by innovative, value-additive features, premium service, integrated platforms, sustainability, loyalty/affinity programs, and affordability; (iii) excellence in operating performance of its assets; (iv) achieving the optimal mix of supply to serve its customer load requirements through a diversified supply strategy, including expanding its operational capacity to meet growing retail power supply needs; and (v) engaging in disciplined and transparent capital allocation.
In the first quarter of 2026, the operations acquired from LS Power were integrated into the Company’s existing segment structure, enhancing scale and portfolio optimization across the platform. In Texas, the Company’s generation portfolio is fully integrated with its retail load and in early 2026, the Company adopted an integrated strategy in the East, expanding this model across a broader geographic footprint. The integrated model strategically aligns generation and retail, enabling the Company to supply a portion of its retail customers with electricity from Company-owned assets, thereby reducing reliance to procure electricity from other institutions and intermediaries and supporting more stable earnings and cash flows, lower transaction costs, and reduced credit exposure. The integrated model also results in a reduction in actual and contingent collateral requirements, improving capital efficiency and further limiting transactions with third parties.
Energy Regulatory Matters
The Company’s regulatory matters are described in the Company’s 2025 Form 10-K in Item 1, Business — Regulatory Matters. These matters have been updated below and in Note 15, Regulatory Matters.
As participants in wholesale and retail energy markets and owners and operators of power plants, certain NRG entities are subject to regulation by various federal and state government agencies. These include the CFTC, FERC and the PUCT, as well as other public utility commissions in certain states where NRG’s generation or distributed generation assets are located. In addition, NRG is subject to the market rules, procedures and protocols of the various ISO and RTO markets in which it participates. Likewise, certain NRG entities participating in the retail markets are subject to rules and regulations established by the states and provinces in which NRG entities are licensed to sell at retail. NRG must also comply with the mandatory reliability requirements imposed by NERC and the regional reliability entities in the regions where NRG operates.
NRG’s operations within the ERCOT footprint are not subject to rate regulation by FERC, as they are deemed to operate solely within the ERCOT market and not in interstate commerce. These operations are subject to regulation by the PUCT.
State and Provincial Energy Regulation
Maryland Legislation — On May 9, 2024, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed Senate Bill (“SB”) 1 into law, which restricts the competitive retail electric and natural gas market in Maryland, affecting residential customers but not commercial and industrial customers. Key provisions of the law took effect on January 1, 2025. The legislation imposes a price cap on residential contracts tied to a trailing 12-month historical average of utility rates, with only a limited exception for renewable power products. Renewable products must now have their price pre-approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission and source their renewable electricity certificates from within the PJM region. The law also requires that any variable-price contract not contain a change in price more than once a year, except time-of-use contracts, and limits contract terms to 12 months. It requires affirmative consent for the renewal of customer contracts for renewable power products. The law also imposes licensing requirements on energy salespeople. While the law states that it does not impair existing contracts, the Maryland Public Service Commission has ruled that grandfathering of existing contracts will end as of December 31, 2025, and that suppliers must issue separate bills for their charges for all new and renewing contracts as of January 1, 2026. On October 1
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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
NRG is exposed to several market risks in the Company’s normal business activities. Market risk is the potential loss that may result from market changes associated with the Company’s retail operations, merchant power generation or with existing or forecasted financial or commodity transactions. The types of market risks the Company is exposed to are commodity price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk and currency exchange risk. The following disclosures about market risk provide an update to, and should be read in conjunction with, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, of the Company’s 2025 Form 10-K.
Commodity Price Risk
Commodity price risks result from exposures to changes in spot prices, forward prices, volatilities and correlations between various commodities, such as natural gas, electricity, coal, oil and emissions credits. NRG manages the commodity price risk of the Company’s load serving obligations and merchant generation operations by entering into various derivative or non-derivative instruments to hedge the variability in future cash flows from forecasted sales and purchases of energy and fuel. NRG measures the risk of the Company’s portfolio using several analytical methods, including sensitivity tests, scenario tests, stress tests, position reports and VaR. NRG uses a Monte Carlo simulation based VaR model to estimate the potential loss in the fair value of its energy assets and liabilities, which includes generation assets, gas transportation and storage assets, load obligations and bilateral physical and financial transactions, based on historical and forward values for factors such as customer demand, weather, commodity availability and commodity prices. The Company’s VaR model is based on a one-day holding period at a 95% confidence interval for the forward 36 months, not including the spot month. The VaR model is not a complete picture of all risks that may affect the Company’s results. Certain events such as counterparty defaults, regulatory changes, and extreme weather and prices that deviate significantly from historically observed values are not reflected in the model.
The following table summarizes average, maximum and minimum VaR for NRG’s commodity portfolio, calculated using the VaR model for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. The VaR increase is primarily due to the addition of new generation assets during the first quarter of 2026.
| (In millions) | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||
| VaR as of March 31, | $ | 85 | $ | 59 | |||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| Average | $ | 89 | $ | 54 | |||||||
| Maximum | 110 | 70 | |||||||||
| Minimum | 57 | 47 | |||||||||
The Company also uses VaR to estimate the potential loss of derivative financial instruments that are subject to mark-to-market accounting. These derivative instruments include transactions that were entered into for both asset management and trading purposes. The VaR for the derivative financial instruments calculated using the diversified VaR model for the entire term of these instruments entered into for both asset management and trading, was $151 million, as of March 31, 2026, primarily driven by asset-backed and risk management transactions.
Credit Risk
Credit risk relates to the risk of loss resulting from non-performance or non-payment by counterparties pursuant to the terms of their contractual obligations. NRG is exposed to counterparty credit risk through various activities including wholesale sales, fuel purchases and retail supply arrangements, and retail customer credit risk through its retail sales. Counterparty credit risk and retail customer credit risk are discussed below. See Note 6, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, to this Form 10-Q for discussion regarding credit risk contingent features.
Counterparty Credit Risk
The Company’s counterparty credit risk policies are disclosed in its 2025 Form 10-K. As of March 31, 2026, counterparty credit exposure, excluding credit exposure from RTOs, ISOs, registered commodity exchanges and certain long-term agreements, was $1.3 billion and NRG held collateral (cash and letters of credit) against those positions of $117 million, resulting in a Net Exposure of $1.2 billion. NRG periodically receives collateral from counterparties in excess of their exposure. Collateral amounts shown include such excess while Net Exposure shown excludes excess collateral received. Approximately 61% of the Company’s exposure before collateral is expected to roll off by the end of 2027. Counterparty credit exposure is valued through observable market quotes and discounted at a risk free interest rate. The following tables highlight net counterparty credit exposure by industry sector and by counterparty credit quality. Net counterparty credit exposure is defined as the aggregate net asset position for NRG with counterparties where netting is permitted under the enabling agreement and
includes all cash flow, mark-to-market and NPNS, and non-derivative transactions. The exposure is shown net of collateral held and includes amounts net of receivables or payables.
| Net Exposure**(a)(b)** | |||||
| Category by Industry Sector | (% of Total) | ||||
| Utilities, energy merchants, marketers and other | 73 | % | |||
| Financial institutions | 27 | ||||
| Total as of March 31, 2026 | 100 | % |
| Net Exposure (a)(b) | |||||
| Category by Counterparty Credit Quality | (% of Total) | ||||
| Investment grade | 70 | % | |||
| Non-investment grade/Non-Rated | 30 | ||||
| Total as of March 31, 2026 | 100 | % |
(a)Counterparty credit exposure excludes coal transportation contracts because of the unavailability of market prices
(b)The figures in the tables above exclude potential counterparty credit exposure related to RTOs, ISOs, registered commodity exchanges and certain long-term contracts
The Company had no exposure to wholesale counterparties in excess of 10% of total Net Exposure as of March 31, 2026. Changes in hedge positions and market prices will affect credit exposure and counterparty concentration.
RTOs and ISOs
The Company participates in the organized markets of CAISO, ERCOT, AESO, IESO, ISO-NE, MISO, NYISO and PJM, known as RTOs or ISOs. Trading in the majority of these markets is approved by FERC, whereas in the case of ERCOT, it is approved by the PUCT, and whereas in the case of AESO and IESO, both exist provincially with AESO primarily subject to Alberta Utilities Commission and the IESO to the Ontario Energy Board. These ISOs may include credit policies that, under certain circumstances, require that losses arising from the default of one member on spot market transactions be shared by the remaining participants. As a result, the counterparty credit risk to these markets is limited to NRG’s share of the overall market and are excluded from the above exposures.
Exchange Traded Transactions
The Company enters into commodity transactions on registered exchanges, notably ICE, NYMEX and Nodal. These clearinghouses act as the counterparty and transactions are subject to extensive collateral and margining requirements. As a result, these commodity transactions have limited counterparty credit risk.
Long-Term Contracts
Counterparty credit exposure described above excludes credit risk exposure under certain long-term contracts, primarily solar under Renewable PPAs. As external sources or observable market quotes are not always available to estimate such exposure, the Company values these contracts based on various techniques including, but not limited to, internal models based on a fundamental analysis of the market and extrapolation of observable market data with similar characteristics. Based on these valuation techniques, as of March 31, 2026, aggregate credit risk exposure managed by NRG to these counterparties was approximately $679 million for the next five years.
Retail Customer Credit Risk
The Company is exposed to retail credit risk through the Company’s retail electricity and gas providers as well as through Vivint Smart Home, which serve both Home and Business customers. Retail credit risk results in losses when a customer fails to pay for services rendered. The losses may result from both non-payment of customer accounts receivable and the loss of in-the-money forward value. The Company manages retail credit risk through the use of established credit policies, which include monitoring of the portfolio and the use of credit mitigation measures such as deposits or prepayment arrangements.
As of March 31, 2026, the Company’s retail customer credit exposure to Home and Business customers was diversified across many customers and various industries, as well as government entities. Current economic conditions may affect the Company’s customers’ ability to pay their bills in a timely manner or at all, which could increase customer delinquencies and may lead to an increase in credit losses.
Liquidity Risk
Liquidity risk arises from the general funding needs of the Company’s activities and in the management of the Company’s assets and liabilities. The Company is currently exposed to additional collateral posting if natural gas prices decline, primarily due to the long natural gas equivalent position at various exchanges used to hedge NRG’s retail supply load obligations.
Based on a sensitivity analysis for power and gas positions under marginable contracts as of March 31, 2026, a $0.50 per MMBtu decrease in natural gas prices across the term of the marginable contracts would cause an increase in margin collateral posted of approximately $1.3 billion and a 1.00 MMBtu/MWh decrease in Heat Rates for Heat Rate positions would result in an increase in margin collateral posted of approximately $355 million. This analysis uses simplified assumptions and is calculated based on portfolio composition and margin-related contract provisions as of March 31, 2026.
Interest Rate Risk
NRG is exposed to fluctuations in interest rates through its issuance of debt. Exposures to interest rate fluctuations may be mitigated by entering into derivative instruments known as interest rate swaps, treasury locks, caps, collars and put or call options. These contracts reduce exposure to interest rate volatility when taking into account the combinations of the debt and the interest rate derivative instrument. NRG’s management policies allow the Company to reduce interest rate exposure. The Company has $700 million of interest rate swaps extending through 2029 to mitigate the risk of the floating rate of the Term Loan B.
NRG has both short and long-term debt instruments that subject the Company to the risk of loss associated with movements in market interest rates. As of March 31, 2026, a 1% change in variable interest rates would result in a $66 million change in interest expense on a rolling twelve-month basis.
As of March 31, 2026, the fair value and related carrying value of the Company’s debt was $22.9 billion and $23.3 billion, respectively. NRG estimates that a 1% decrease in market interest rates would have increased the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt as of March 31, 2026 by $905 million.
Currency Exchange Risk
NRG is subject to transactional exchange rate risk from transactions with customers in countries outside of the United States, primarily within Canada, as well as from intercompany transactions between affiliates. Transactional exchange rate risk arises from the purchase and sale of goods and services in currencies other than the Company’s functional currency or the functional currency of an applicable subsidiary. NRG hedges a portion of its forecasted currency transactions with foreign exchange forward contracts. As of March 31, 2026, NRG is exposed to changes in foreign currency primarily associated with the purchase of U.S. dollar denominated natural gas for its Canadian business and entered into foreign exchange contracts with a notional amount of $397 million.
The Company is subject to translation exchange rate risk related to the translation of the financial statements of its foreign operations into U.S. dollars. Costs incurred and sales recorded by subsidiaries operating outside of the United States are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates effective during the respective period. As a result, the Company is exposed to movements in the exchange rates of various currencies against the U.S. dollar, primarily the Canadian and Australian dollars. A hypothetical 10% appreciation in major currencies relative to the U.S. dollar as of March 31, 2026 would have resulted in a decrease of $1 million to net income within the consolidated statement of operations.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of NRG’s management, including its principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, NRG conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in NRG’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred in the quarter ended March 31, 2026 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, NRG’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
For a discussion of material legal proceedings to which NRG is a party through March 31, 2026, see Note 14, Commitments and Contingencies and Note 15, Regulatory Matters, to this Form 10-Q.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, there were no material changes to the Risk Factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of the Company’s 2025 Form 10-K.
ITEM 2 — UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of NRG or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act), of NRG’s common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
| For the three months ended March 31, 2026 | Total Number of Shares Purchased**(a)** | Average Price Paid per Share**(b)** | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in millions)****(c) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Month #1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (January 1, 2026 to January 31, 2026) | 656,900 | $ | 151.93 | 656,900 | $ | 3,207 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Month #2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (February 1, 2026 to February 28, 2026) | 490,000 | $ | 162.90 | 490,000 | $ | 3,127 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Month #3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026)(d) | 1,829,269 | $ | 164.00 | 1,829,269 | $ | 2,826 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total at March 31, 2026 | 2,976,169 | $ | 161.16 | 2,976,169 |
(a)Includes share repurchases under the $3.7 billion share repurchase authorization and the $3.0 billion repurchase authorization. For further discussion, see Note 9, Changes in Capital Structure
(b)The average price paid per share excludes excise tax owed and commissions per share and fees paid in connection with the share repurchases
(c)Includes commissions and fees paid in connection with the share repurchases
(d)The Company entered into a stock purchase agreement to repurchase 1,829,269 shares of NRG common stock from LS Power
ITEM 3 — DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4 — MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
There have been no events that are required to be reported under this Item.
Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the following directors or officers of the Company adopted or terminated a ‘Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement’ or ‘non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,’ as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K, as described in the table below:
| Name | Title | Date Adopted | Character of Trading Arrangement | Aggregate Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Purchased or Sold Pursuant to Trading Arrangement**(a)** | Duration | Date Terminated | ||||||||||||||
| Virginia Kinney | Executive Vice President, Chief Administration Officer | 3/16/2026 | Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement | Up to 31,145 shares to be Sold | 6/15/2026-9/16/2026 | N/A |
(a)Potential sales may be subject to certain price limitations set forth in the 10b5-1 plans and therefore actual number of shares sold could vary if certain minimum stock prices are not met
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(e)
On February 19, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the NRG Energy, Inc. 2026 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2026 LTIP”), subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders. As reported in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on May 1, 2026, at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders held on April 30, 2026, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2026 LTIP. The aggregate number of shares of common stock of the Company available for issuance under the 2026 LTIP is 5,000,000 (less any shares underlying equity awards granted between March 3, 2026 and April 30, 2026 under the Company’s existing LTIPs).
The material features of the 2026 LTIP are described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 18, 2026, as supplemented on April 16, 2026. A copy of the 2026 LTIP was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on April 30, 2026 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 6. EXHIBITS
| Number | Description | Method of Filing | ||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Third Supplemental Indenture, dated April 28, 2026, among NRG Energy, Inc., the guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, containing Form of 4.955% Senior Secured First Lien Notes due 2031. | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2026. | ||||||||||||
| 4.2 | Third Supplemental Indenture, dated April 28, 2026, among NRG Energy, Inc., the guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, containing Form of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2034 and Form of 6.125% Senior Notes due 2036 | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2026. | ||||||||||||
| 10.1 | Sixteenth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 28, 2026, by and among NRG Energy, Inc., Citicorp North America, Inc., as administrative agent and as collateral agent, and certain financial institutions, as lenders. | Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2026. | ||||||||||||
| 22.1 | List of Guarantor Subsidiaries | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification of Robert J. Gaudette. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification of Woo-Sung Chung. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 31.3 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) certification of G. Alfred Spencer. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 32 | Section 1350 Certification. | Furnished herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 101 INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document. | The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document. | ||||||||||||
| 101 SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 101 CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 101 DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 101 LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 101 PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page interactive data file does not appear in Exhibit 104 because it’s Inline XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | Filed herewith. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| NRG ENERGY, INC. (Registrant) | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ ROBERT J. GAUDETTE | Date: May 6, 2026 | |||||||||||||
| Robert J. Gaudette | ||||||||||||||
| President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ WOO-SUNG CHUNG | Date: May 6, 2026 | |||||||||||||
| Woo-Sung Chung | ||||||||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | ||||||||||||||
| /s/ G. ALFRED SPENCER | Date: May 6, 2026 | |||||||||||||
| G. Alfred Spencer | ||||||||||||||
| Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||||||||||||